Plastic container



INVENTOR.

Dense.

United States Patent US. Cl. 229-44 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA plastic container having a body portion and a lid connected thereto isprovded. The container has an integrally formed latch which permits thelid to be opened and closed easily with one hand.

In the marketing of goods which are relatively small in size, it isdesirable that they be packaged in a container which is economical tomanufature and which is small enough to fit easily within a personspocket or handbag. Furthermore, it is desirable that the package beprovided with means for maintaining the lid in a closed position butwhich can easily be opened.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide acontainer having a body portion and a lid in which latch means areprovided for maintaining the lid closed on the body portion but whichcan readily be released to move the lid to an open position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container havingan integral latch which can easily be released with one hand to open thelid thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent from the annexed sheet of drawings on which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the container with the lid in aclosed position on the body portion.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the lid in fully openposition.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view taken from another angle showing the lidin a partially open position.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a containergenerally designated by the numeral 10 comprisin a body portion 11 and alid 12. The lid may be attached to the body portion by a pair of hinges13 which are integrally molded therewith. However, other types of hingesmay be untilized to connect the lid and body portions. One advantage ofutilizing integrally molded hinges 13, in addition to the relatively lowcost, lies in the fact that the lid 12 and body portion 11 may be moldedwith the lid in an open position and, hence, the elastic memory of theplastic will cause the lid to have a tendency to spring to an openposition upon release of the latch.

The body portion 11 includes a bottom 16 and an integrally formedannular sidewall 17 extending upwardly therefrom. As shown, the sidewall17 is formed with a plurality of planar wall portions 17a, 17b, 17c and17d, which terminate at their upper ends in an outwardly extendingflange 18. As illustrated, the hinges 13 extend outwardly from theflange 18 adjacent sidewall portion 17d. The portion of the flange 18extending outwardly from the sidewall portion 17b opposite the hinges 13is provided with a notch 19, for purposes to be hereinafter described.

The lid 12 includes a panel portion 21 which terminates at its outerperiphery in edge portions 22 which overlie the flange 18 when the lidis in a closed position. Extending downwardly from the inside of thepanel 21 is a rib 23 having a size and position to be snugly receivedwithin the top of the sidewall 17 when the lid is in a closed position.Thus, when the lid 12. is closed, the rib 23 engages the top of each ofthe sidewall portions 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d, and serves to impart adegree of rigidity to the container 10. It will be noted, however, fromviewing FIGURE 2, that the rib 23 is interrupted as at 24 over asubstantial portion of the edge which is opposite the hinges 13.Preferably, the interruption of the rib 23 extends over a greaterdistance than does the notch 19 of the flange 18 and is so positionedthat no portion of the rib 23 is aligned with the notch 19 when the lidis in a closed position.

Integrally formed with the lid 12 and extending downwardly from the edgeportion 22 opposite the hinges 13 is a tab 25. The tab 25 has an upperor first portion 25a which is receivable within the notch 10 of flange18 and a lower or second portion 25b which extends laterally beyond thenotch 19 and engages the under surface of the flange 18 adjacent thenotch 19 when the lid is in a closed position. Thus, the lid 12 isretained in a closed position on the body portion 11 by virtue of thelower tab portion 25b engaging the portions of the flange 18 adjacentthe notch 19.

It will be readily seen that such construction will permit the tab 25 tobe released from the flange 18 by simply pushing the sidewall portion17b inwardly a suflicient distance that the flange portions 18 adjacentthe notch 19 are moved out of engagement with the lower tab portions25b. The fact that the flange 18 has a notch 19 in the area of thesidewall portion 17b permits the top of such sidewall portion to bereadily deflected inwardly. Thus, a user can open the package simply byholding the sidewall portion 17d adjacent the hinges with his fingersand pushing inwardly on the sidewall portion 17b with his thumb. Thefact that the rib 23 is also interupted in this area as indicated by thenumeral 24 makes it possible to perform the opening action quitereadily. And yet, experience has shown that the container has aremarkable ability to remain in a closed position unless a personactually intends to open it.

Upon release of the latch 01' tab 25, the lid 12 will immediately springto an open position by virtue of the elastic memory inherent in plasticmaterial and the fact that the hinges 13 were initially molded with thelid in an open position. However, it is obviously possible to utilize aseparate spring loaded hinge without affecting the operability of thetab closing means.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated ashaving a rectangular cross-sectional configuration with a rectangularlid, it will be recognized that many shapes of containers may utilizethe present invention.

I claim:

1. A contaner comprising (a) a body portion having a bottom and anannular sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, said sidewall terminatingat its upper end in an, outwardly extending flange, said flange havingan interrupted portion defining a notch,

(b) a lid for closing the upper end of said body portion, said lid, whenclosed, overlying said flange,

(c) a tab extending downwardly from said lid in alignment with saidnotch, said tab having a first portion receivable within said notch anda second portion extending laterally beyond said notch and engaging thelower face of said flange adjacent the wardly therefrom, said sidewallelements being notch when the lid is in a closed position, and joinedtogether and terminating at the upper end (d) hinge means connectingsaid lid to said body porin a flange extending outwardly from therespection opposite said tab and notch. tive sidewall elements, saidflange having an inter- 2. The container as defined in claim 1 includinga rib 5 rupted portion defining a notch positioned centrally extendingdownwardly from said lid and sized to be of one of said sidewallelements, snugly received within the top of said annular sidewall (b) alid for closing the upper end of said body porwhen the lid is in aclosed position, said rib being intertion, a rib extending downwardlyfrom said lid, said ruptedinthe area of said tab. rib sized to thesnugly received within the top of 3. A container comprising said bodyportion when the lid is in a closed posi- (a) a body portion having abottom and an annular tion, said lid having peripheral portionsoutwardly sidewall extending upwardly therefrom, said sidewallterminating at its upper end in an outwardly extending flange, at leasta portion of said sidewall adjacent said flange being planar, saidflange having a notch in the portion extending outwardly from saidplanar sidewall portion,

from said rib overlying said flange,

(c) a tab extending downwardly from said lid in alignment with saidnotch, said tab having a first portion receivable within said notch anda second portion extending laterally beyond said notch and engaging thelower face of said flange adjacent the (b) a lid for closing the upperend of said body portion, said lid, when closed overlying said flange.

(c) a tab extending downwardly from said lid in alignment with saidnotch, said tab having a first portion receivable within said notch anda second portion extending laterally beyond said notch and engaging thelower face of said flange adjacent the notch when the lid is in a closedposition, and

(d) hinge means connecting said lid to said body pornotch when the lidis in a closed position, and (d) hinge means connecting said lid to saidbody portion opposite said tab and notch. 6. The container as defined inclaim 1 wherein said rib is interrupted in the area of said tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS tion Opposite said tab and notch.gag;

i 4. The container as defined in claim 3 including a rib 3:240:3753/1966 Burrows 220 31 X extending downwardly from said lid and sized tobe snugly received within the top of said annular sidewall when the lidis in a closed position, sai drib being interrupted in the area of saidtab. 5. A container comprising (a) a body portion having a bottom and aplurality of substantially flat sidewall elements extendin up- 35 DAVIDM. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

Notice of Adverse Decisions in Interferences In Interference No. 97,804involving Patent No. 3,458,113, P. T. Swartzbaugh, PLASTIC CONTAINER,final 1udgment advelse to the patentee was ren ered Mar. 29, 1973, as toclaims 1, 3 and 5.

[Ofiicial Gazette July 10,1973]

